Part 58 (2/2)
”The world's already a den of wild beasts,” Brown interrupted sharply.
”They have snarled and snapped long enough. It's time to clinch and fight it out.”
There could be no doubt of the savage earnestness of the man who spoke.
There was the ring of steel in every word. Lee looked at him curiously.
”May I ask how many people you know in the North who feel that way toward the South?”
”Millions, sir.”
”And they back you in this attack?”
”A few chosen prophets--yes--thank G.o.d.”
”And these prophets of the coming mob of millions have furnished you the money to arm and equip this expedition?”
”They have.”
”It's amazing--”
”The millions are yet asleep,” Brown admitted. He shook his gray locks as his terrible mouth closed with a deep intake of breath. ”But I'll awake them! The thunderbolt which I have launched over Harper's Ferry will call them. And they will follow me. I hope to hear the throb of their drums over the hills before you have finished with me to-day!”
Lee was silent again, looking at the face with flaming eyes in a new wonder.
”And you invade to rob and murder at will?”
”I have not robbed!”
”No?”
”I have confiscated the property of slaveholders for use in a divine cause.”
”Who gave you the right to confiscate the property of others in any cause?”
”Again I answer, my conscience.”
”So a common thief can say.”
”I am no common thief.”
”Yet when you forced your way into Colonel Was.h.i.+ngton's home at night you committed a felony, known as burglary.”
”I did it in a holy crusade, sir.”
”The highwayman on the plains might plead the same necessity.”
”You know, Colonel Lee, that I am neither felon, nor highwayman. I am an Abolitionist. My sole aim in the invasion of the South is to free the slave--”
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